Anyone else out there an AI fan? Come on, now. Admit it. I tell people I watch because it’s “the only thing I can watch with my kids”, but truth be told, I dig it. I like the early auditions full of beauty and the beasts, I like hellacious Hollywood week, and getting down to numero uno ain’t half bad, either.

Thing is (and we know this), American Idol is a TV show that gets paid for by commercials. Mo’ viewers? Mo’ money. So they stretch the darn thing over three nights (now two), and to add drama and conflict, you painstakingly watch them streeeeetch out the kick-off episodes and fill the hour with lots of backstory and montage videos and group sing. Ugh. Thank goodness for TiVo. On kick-off night, I just want that – the end. To know who’s packing their bags and who I might need to vote for the next week if they were in the bottom three and I didn’t think they should be. Hey, when you’re a mother of three, you exert your power where you can.

If ever there is a reason for DVR, that’s it. So now that we’re down to the remaining eleven and cutie pie David Archuleta forgot his lyrics last week opening up the finals to four or five other great singers. And since David Hernandez is no longer in the running at least we don’t have three Davids to keep up with.

My favorite David has been Tulsa’s own David Cook, the true rocker of the group who sounds so professional I believe I’m watching him in concert each week. For the girls, Brooke White (my ten year old’s crush) is the only one that seems ready for the big-time to me. Anyone else can’t take their eyes off of Carly Smithson’s tatt while she’s singing? Or staring at Amanda Overmyer’s Cruella De Vil hair? Anyone who says it’s “just about the voice” and not the whole package, is just plain being PC with ya.

The new “advance” to AI this year is the ability to download songs from the singers on iTunes each week. David Cook’s rendition of Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” was totally worth the .99 price, but I missed the window to buy it. Hopefully, he’ll get the chance again when he records it in the studio for his first album.

Speaking of iTunes, (yes, here comes the Machead) they are absolutely brilliant to offer Oprah’s workshops on their site, too. Awareness is one thing, but access is critical. To be able to hear about an artist, movie or podcast and then download it within thirty seconds is simple genius.

Next week, come back for more Mac love when I’ll be gushing about the iPhone and all the cool pop cult things you can do with it, and why every mommy needs one. Have a nice Spring Break, rainy, sunny or otherwise!